Shaping the Dream Retreat

When we start working with a teacher, the first thing we do isn’t look at venues or dates. We ask them to tell us about their dream retreat.

What do they want this experience to feel like? What kind of energy do they want to create? Who are they envisioning showing up—and why are they doing this retreat in the first place?

Some teachers are leading a retreat for the first time, others have done this a dozen times before. Some are bringing long-time students who want a deep, introspective experience. Others want a retreat that feels more like a nourishing holiday. The brief is where we hear all of that: it's our foundation.

We also talk numbers. Not just budgets, but expectations. Is this a premium experience or something more accessible? Lately, we’ve had more teachers asking for affordable retreats; spaces where guests can still access incredible experiences without the luxury price tag that so often comes with yoga travel.

And we get it—this world can feel exclusive. So we look for smart ways to trim costs without cutting corners. That might mean:

– Offering optional excursions instead of bundling them into the price
– Creating a tiered room system so guests can choose what suits them
– Planning during shoulder season, when the island is quieter and venues are more flexible
– Leveraging local partnerships we've built over years of working here, to get better rates on food, transport, and activities

Once we understand the teacher’s vision, goals, and guest profile, we start shaping a retreat that aligns with all three. It's not just about filling a week with yoga and meals—it's about crafting an experience that makes sense for this teacher, this group, and this moment.

It’s a co-creation, and we love being part of that process.

The Place that Fits the Brief

When we started planning our Tinos retreat, we didn’t land on this island right away.

We began by looking across the Aegean—comparing islands that fit the teacher’s brief: somewhere with enough space and variety to feel like a real journey, but not so remote it becomes a mission to get to. The group would be spending time in Athens first, so the island had to be close enough to the mainland to make logistics smooth, but far enough to feel like a true escape.

We explored quite a few islands; some were stunning, but too small to offer more than one “day out.” Others were a bit too complicated to get to. Some didn’t have enough good venue options, or the venues were too isolated for guests who’d want the beach within easy walking distance.

Tinos stood out because it met all the needs without compromise:

• Big enough to build a varied itinerary - hiking, history, villages, sea

• Culturally rich, with archaeological and religious sites, not just pretty views

• Close enough to the mainland for smooth transitions from Athens

• Well-connected, making a boat trip to a neighboring island totally doable

• Plenty of venue options, including ones that could hold a larger group and still be walking distance to the beach

We spent time visiting different venues on the island, walking the routes guests would take to the beach or village, and imagining what a retreat here would actually feel like. We didn’t want a place that just looked good on Instagram - we wanted somewhere that would feel right on the ground, every day of the week.

Tinos gave us that balance. It was the right blend of practical and magical—and most importantly, it felt like a place guests could really settle into.

The Local Food Philosophy Behind Every Plate

For our Tinos retreat, we didn’t want a generic "wellness menu." We wanted food that tastes like where you are.

Mike and Cindy (our in-house family chefs) started with the basics: What’s local? What’s in season? What do people in the villages eat?

He visited the weekly market, chatted with growers and bakers, tasted cheeses, picked wild herbs. Then he built a menu around Cycladic food culture - meals that are unfussy but deeply nourishing.

Think wild greens and soft cheeses, slow-roasted lamb, figs still warm from the sun. He balanced familiar comforts with new flavors, and built meals that support the pace of the retreat - lighter lunches, more grounding dinners.

We share the full menu in advance with teachers, make space for dietary needs, and keep the vibe flexible. The food always ends up being a highlight.

Budgeting a Retreat Without Killing the Vibe

Let’s talk money for a second.

When teachers come to us with their dream retreat, one of the first things we do is get a clear picture of the budget. But instead of overcomplicating things, we keep it clean and collaborative.

We start by reaching out to all our trusted suppliers - accommodation, transport, activities, food - and get estimated costs for everything. Once we’ve gathered those, we break down the full cost across the available rooms and spaces. That gives us a clear idea of what needs to be covered and how it could work across a range of price points.

From there, it’s a back-and-forth conversation. Some teachers want to keep it luxe, others are trying to make it affordable for their community. We play around with tiered pricing, optional add-ons, and even shoulder-season rates - thanks to our local network, we can often unlock pricing schemes that most retreat organisers don’t know exist.

Once we’ve landed on a structure that works for both sides, the teacher takes over managing bookings and deposits. Then, in batches, they send us lump sums so we can pay suppliers on time and keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

This is the process that we have found works best. It’s simple, clear and it means our teachers can focus on creating a great experience rather than fiddling with numbers. We keep it light, precise, and transparent, so nothing gets lost in translation (or in a spreadsheet).

We set pricing for single and double occupancy (where relevant), making sure each guest covers their share of the costs while leaving room for a healthy profit margin.

We gather estimated and actual costs from trusted suppliers to build a realistic budget. This becomes our starting point for pricing rooms in a way that covers costs and meets the retreat goals.